The current family fleet includes:

93 945T with 462,000 miles. Bought it used with 125K in 2000 and since have replaced: the turbo with an eBay unit, two main fuel pumps, one tank pump, AC Compressor and condensor, a heater core and a rebuilt alternator just because the slip rings get grooved. I rebuilt the front end to tighen the ride and put on IPD Sway Bars with Bilsteins. The best car I have ever had. I use synthetic oil but only change it every 10K.

92 240 with 245,000. Car was a dealer loaner at one time so a lot of things were done to keep it ship shape. Biggest expense has been a new steering rack which had to be done at a dealer because my daughter was on vacation 400 miles from home.

95 850 with 250,000. Normal repairs

96 850 with 188,000. This one needed a valve job at 115,000. OK since then.

2001 XC70 with 147,000. Bought this from my brother with 142,000 and he got to have the fun fixing all the bugs during it's first 11 years. He had to replace the catylitic converter at 85K, the brake booster at 110,000, rebuilt the angle gear at 120K, front bushings at 120K. Nice driving car though.

When we are up at 200K+ things need to be done, bushings, shocks, brakes, hoses etc. Oil is a no brainer but I don't do 3K changes anymore and the cars seem to tolerate the longer intervals fine. Once you are over 200K the rear engine seals always need to be done and the FWD cars are more of a pain than the RWD cars. For some reason the 940 (and the 740 I had before it with 330K on the clock) likes to go through relays. Same relays on the 240 but it is not as touchy.

There is always something to address but it comes out a lot cheaper than a new car payment.

Let's see: Getting to 200k was more or less standard. Fluids, belts, anything made of rubber, hoses, etc. changed as needed. December of '09 the car got rear-ended. $4000 in damages (Progressive estimate) to replace the drivers rear quarter panel, tail light, drivers rear door (while completely operational, the panel got bent), etc. while the car was valued at $2800. They totaled it out, after negotiating, for $3200. Bent what I could back, put a light assembly in, and expandafoamed it to keep it watertight. Passed safety inspection, and got it back on the road. In June of '12 I had a crane drop its rigging on the hood, damaging it, smashing the passenger headlight, blinker, and bending the fender a little bit. We came to an agreement for $800, I replaced the lights, and bent the metal as best I could. In October, I rolled over 250k.

Could use a windshield (cracked on passenger side), AC fixed (evaporator), and a good vacuuming. Timing belt is due in about 5k, and it burns a quart every 700 miles (two tanks). Oddly enough, it appears to burn nothing the first 350 miles after I fill it back up..

It probably won't hit 300k (well, at least with my ownership) as I'm slowly looking at replacing it for a V70. I want a wagon. I'm looking for an '04-'06, but waiting for them and my budget to be the same number.
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If you're not driving it "like its stolen," are you really driving?

It's not the high miles that count, it is long life. And that is accomplished by routine maintenance and not putting off something that is prone to failure. Like O2 sensors that are over 130K or inspecting vacuum lines.

My current 850 has only 155K miles, but it has been through a war zone. The oil changes were religious, but the car has never seen a mechanic in the last 10 years.

There is still a lot to do to make it road worthy; O2 sensor, clean throttle body, clean IAC, 'fix' SAS error, 'fix' air box thermostat, get newer tires, find rear calipers, flush fluids, etc.

What is nice about Volvos, the problem areas are usually easy to DIY, even the FWD cars. At around 12 years, the bushings rot, the shocks/struts fail, the engine mounts fail, or, if the part looks like rubber - it is time to replace it. Just like the RWD cars.
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My name is Klaus and I am a V♂lv♂holic

OK, I'll bite! 1998 V70, purchased new, just passed 344k miles. How? Great car to start with, no extranious mechanicals like AWD or auto transmission. Religious on maintenance - 3k oil changes (not synthetic), annual brake fluid flush, 5-6 years all hoses, & ~ every 20k suck out and refil power steering fluid. Another item I consider a big part is doing my own maintenance. Thge car went to the dealer once for a recall, but I have done everything since including alignments, AC evaporator, and clutch (one time at 320k). Basically the same sort of maintenance I do on the 240 (1990, 236k, purchased in 2004 at 127k).

It's funny, you would think that everyone is ready to share a good longevity story.

My original 82 240, sold at 260k.

I have:

93 940 has 375k.
93 940 (college student) has 245k.
2004 v70 work vehicle has 251k.
2004 s80 with 115k.
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I'm stuck on Volvo and Volvo's stuck on me....